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Bruins Acquire Trio of Veteran Players

by
Staff Writer
/ Boston Bruins

BostonBruins.com – After a rather quiet day, the Boston Bruins acquired New York Islanders forward Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau in exchange for prospects Marc Cantin and Yannick Riendeau as the 3 p.m. trade deadline approached.

Rolston, 39, is in his 19th NHL season and returns to Boston after playing with the Bruins from 2000-04. In 338 games with the Black & Gold, Rolston finished with a total of 101 goals and 135 assists for 236 points.

The Flint, Mich., native won the 1994-95 Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils and he’s hoping he can help the Bruins bring home another one.

“I’m thrilled,” Rolston told NHL Home Ice. “I’m 39-years-old and I’ve had a long career, and anytime you can go to a Cup contending team it’s a great thing. That’s why we play this game – to win Stanley cups. I’m thrilled to be going back to Boston.”

Rolston, who has played in 70 playoff games, spent nine of his 19 seasons with the New Jersey Devils (1994-99, 2008-11). In his first stint with the Devils, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche during the 1999-00 season for 50 games before being shipped to Boston.

He also played with the Minnesota Wild (2005-08) before returning to the Devils.

Mike Mottau, who grew up in Quincy and played at Boston College from 1996-00, played with Rolston on the New Jersey Devils from 2008-10, and the two were reunited when Rolston joined the Islanders this season.

The 33-year old defenseman’s highest point totals came in 2009-10, when he had two goals and 16 assists.

Mottau said that he is hoping he can contribute to the Bruins is any way possible.

"To be able to go to a contender and have a chance at the Stanley Cup and repeating on a Stanley Cup team is quite a thrill," Mottau said. "I’ll do whatever it takes to add value to the team and I think I’m more prepared to do it now – just kind of understanding roles and being part of a group that’s been there before and hopefully I can fit in seamlessly."

Mottau also won the Hobey Baker award in his senior season at BC as the Eagles advanced to the National Championship, and he was also recognized as the top player and top defenseman in the Hockey East.

Greg Zanon, one of the league’s best shot-blockers, will join Mottau on the blueline to provide some depth to the defense.

In the 2008-09 season with the Nashville Predators, Zanon burst onto the scene and finished third in the league with 237 blocked shots. He never matched those numbers, but the next season he was ranked fourth with 196, and last season he ranked second best with 212.

This season with the Minnesota Wild, Zanon has blocked 104 shots in 39 games played.